Around 4:00 pm on Sunday, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding two men struggling in the Kings River. Neither was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to Winton Park alongside a helicopter crew and Cal Fire Fresno County Firefighters. They located one man safely on a downstream island, while the other man was found submerged nearby. The helicopter crew managed to pull the submerged man from the water and transported him to EMS personnel. Unfortunately, he was later declared deceased at the hospital. The man has been identified as 30-year-old Everardo Saucedo. The other man was treated and is expected to recover.
The Sheriff’s Office advises the community to avoid local rivers due to dangerous conditions. Water temperatures are in the low 50s, and currents are strong due to dam releases.
Additional water safety recommendations include wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, staying out of the water for inexperienced swimmers, supervising children, avoiding alcohol when swimming, and being cautious of cold water temperatures and strong currents. The Sheriff’s Office also warns against underwater debris and advises caution with muddy river and lake bottoms.
